Backlash Over Coke's New Personalized Bottles

When you were a kid, did you ever feel left out because you couldn't find your name on a license plate at one of those souvenir shops? If you have a name that wasn't on the most popular list, then you know what we're talking about. Well, you might soon be revisiting that left-out feeling if you're hoping to be a part of the new Coca-Cola "Share A Coke" marketing campaign of first names printed on the soda labels.

The personalized bottles are already receiving backlash in countries like Israel, according to the Washington Post, where Arabic names have been left off the list. Coke in Israel included 150 of the most popular Israeli first names on their Coke, Diet Coke, and Coke Zero bottles, reports the Washington Post. But the campaign has backfired in Israel. An Arab-Israeli citizen has filed a petition in Israeli court denouncing the campaign as discriminatory. "Not one Arabic name, he pointed out, appears among the popular Israeli names identified by the drinks giant, even though Israel's Arab population numbers more than 1.5 million," the article states.

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The Arabic residents weren't the only ones with a gripe. Russian and Ethiopian minorities also voiced their dissatisfaction. In Sweden the company avoided a problem, leaving out Mohammed, though that was in favor of the Muslim community who didn't want their names commercialized.

In Glasgow, Scotland, as with other countries, people took to social media to voice their complaints. Ross Carling posted on Coke's Facebook page, "I know you probably get this everyday saying you get ..... this name and not mine. But seriously you can't get Ross but you can get Georgina." That was after he was told at the grocery store, sorry Charlie, er Ross, your name isn't common.

The company says they are targeting 20-somethings, with a sweet spot of 20. If you rewind the clock to 1993, Consumerist says the most popular names in the U.S. were: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Jessica, Ashley, and Sarah. Unfortunately, that means for the Shilohs, Suris, and Blue Ivys of the world, they are out of luck.